Between the Cliffs, Newport 1876

William Trost Richards created this small, intimate oil on paper work, titled ‘Between the Cliffs, Newport’ in 1876. Richards was part of the American artistic movement known as the Hudson River School. His work captured the American landscape with detailed realism. But beyond the surface, these landscapes are deeply tied to the idea of American identity and expansion. As a seascape, this painting draws you into the liminal space between the cliffs and the sea. There's a sense of being caught between worlds, a feeling that mirrors the social tensions of the time. The late 19th century was a period of immense change in America, marked by industrialization, urbanization, and shifting social norms. Women were beginning to push against traditional gender roles, African Americans were fighting for civil rights, and the working class was organizing for better conditions. Here, rather than depicting an untouched wilderness, Richards shows nature as a place of enclosure. It leaves one pondering not only our relationship to nature, but to each other.